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Buddhism
A religion without a God? How could that be? And how could it have captured and captivated so many millions of people in so many countries for so many centuries? What is your opinion, as why, in its 2,500-years history, Buddhism has grown from a tiny religion community in northern India into a movement that spans the globe? If you consider yourself a Vampire, can you follow Buddhism?
Now, the study of Buddhism offer great challenges to people who have grown up in the Western world. It does not share many of the central beliefs of Western religions, such as the concept of a single, omnipotent God, or that each human being has a permanent self that will continue afterlife. Any ideas as why is that? Please, no bashing of any forms. Thank You.

A Small Paragraph about Buddhism:

I can tell you why it makes more sense to me than any other religion, for all the reasons you cited.

heck, in many ways it's close to paganism.

I've practised my 'belief' for years now, rarely talking of it... after all, why should I?

Unlike 'those othe faiths'... there is little hypocrisy involved and, for that alone, it should be valued above them, I feel....

Buddhism is pure and selfless. It's about balance. I believe it to be the best and the hardest to practice.

on the walk... I thought... it's the only one about prolonging the Now... enjoyiong what is...
[[I favour Tao]] whilst all the others promise a wonderful tomorrow...

and... thinkin 'bout it, too many live for tomorrow, ignoring the Now, so miss ever so - much...

Buddhism is not a religion in the sense like that of Hinduism, Buddhism is a path, a focus to become more and in this, it does reflect upon God in a manner much differently. Depending on the aspect of Buddhism you follow depends on different aspects of accension, enlightenment or such.

In aspect, the point is to ease the suffering and bring peace to not only the practitioner but the world. In this the point is to achieve enlightenment to eventually unit with the the supreme enity known as God. However until all can be given such a chance to unit, many continue the measure of Samsara, dieing, rebirth, living, dieing, rebirth, spreading the enlightenement ot many others.

- Sin

am curious as to the use of God there.

That aside.

It's nigh on the only main religion that is not mixed up with bigotry and hypocrisy... as are so many of the main Faiths...

In hinduism, there is still a single God, this God however, has many different facets, masks, persona. These aspects give everyone the ability to give honor to God, regardless.

Siddhartha didn't want people to be chained to a constant form of Samsara, where misery was always constant, he wanted to help elevate people beyond the cycle, to have them find their balance that would keep them from suffering.

However not all are ready to receive the enlightenment, and it could be many more life cycles because one is birthed into knowing they have a path that needs to be followed.

- Amar

compassion for others is at the center. one needs to relinquish the concept that they are the center of everything. all is interdependent on the other. belief in multiple worlds and universes.

suffering is brought on by desire. that is "desire" for material goods or attachment to possessions or even attachment to a person. once the mind is tamed then the suffering decreases. the study and practice of the dharma is the way to this stage

I only wish I had the will and self-control to be Buddhist. I believe in what they believe, but it's hard to practice.

for us, letting go of the ID prevents enlightenment.
knowledge of it though... can help... one work round such a problem...

As far as I can tell over the years, many state it is more of a philosophical outlook that has been defined by some as a religion. Not all look at it that way and that includes some from the area. Being a vampiric, has nothing to do with religion except judgments by those who follow said religion in regard to things that may be about their actions generally. There are vampirics of all religious persuasions thoughout the vampire community including Christian. Not all vampirics could be labeled "dark" within the community. That is a stereotype unfortunately that many have attached to the modern vampire community. Everyone is different so I am sure there are some following the values of Buddhism or at least learning about it. I learned about it in the 60s in college so I no longer remember all the details. I think that many take the best of some of these views and try to follow them even if they don't actually follow it in general. Eastern thought is very different from western, but it does hold the fascination of many people in the world whether vampire or other.

ApertureStar

It is hard to follow the path, as it is hard to follow Hinduism, however I would like to quote something from the Bhagavad Gita, which, regardless if your Hindu, Buddhist or other, rings true.

"On this path effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear." (2:40)



AsphaltTears

The issue is with the label of being 'Vampyre' and 'dark' is because people wish to be some sort of sexual driven predator, or some sort of primal sophisticated monster or some aspect of sort. So many, at a young age, are drawn into this aspect and believe this is the path they belong to. In relation the Sanguinarium, along with other Circles close to relation, seem to drive home a more satanistic aspect, along with other forms of Eastern Philosophy, butchering teachings nearly 10000 years old to simply make their 'own brand of dark' to feed to the masses to gain money. Even the very aspect of being a 'Vampyre' is incorrect in manner, we drawn energy from the world around us, this energy has always been there and many Tantric masters hard learned to survive off of 'pranic' energy for months on end without needing to live off of food, or water. More in aspect is that we, those who have awakened, have awakened into a measure of power along this line and we starve to continue such tradition, however lost fragments of the teachings not coming to light which makes it incomplete. This leaves us hungry, starving, making the more animalistic aspect worried that what 'food' it has might not be enough, which will often drive us, out of desperation, to seek out the energy we need through measures outside what we want.

This is all through my own belief, which probably differs from what I've written some ages ago, however what can I say, evolution through spiritual awakening on a path that I have been part of lives before this one, recently gave me. I cannot say what I speak of is truth, however I know its truth to me, and that is what matters.

- Sin
a.k.a
- Amar

P.S.
Anyone say a damn word about Tantra being some sort of sex based item, I am going to throw my ficken show at their skull. Please make sure you research into Tantra before assuming that 'Tantra' is about 'Sex'.

Tantra, as my partner and I practiced it, was about union and, prolonging a moment of bliss.

It was warped by smalls groups in Californis in the 1960's... in Tantic Sex. Just... the physical. No more.

Sad...

Tantra does have a ritual based around such, however the whole point is that its not about getting an orgasim from fiction, its about the union of God (Shiva) and Goddess (Kali) and that while the woman remains atop, motionless, it is the divine spark that fuels the very enjoyment and eventual euphoria. However that is the ONLY aspect I have seen about true Tantra that has any relation to sex, everything else is through the understanding of both the body, spirit and mind in relation to controlling the world around you, forming it, like one can form dreams.

- Sin Amar

I gave the reason the Californians took it...

Of course it means a lot more... as does any form of Buddism, but this thread wasn't about the Tantric Sex and, a partner.

I don't profess to know all about Buddism, after all no Buddist would atest to such a thing.

I talk of the scant little knowledge I have.

Buddhism's view of reality is a philosophy, but many of the techniques it uses to get results are definitely religious.

Buddhism, like many eastern religions, especially 'dharmic' religions (like hinduism) are philosophies not 'religions' as we generally understand the word in the western world. In the east buddhism is seen purely as a philosophy, it can be seen as a 'religion' as some forms of buddhism do have rituals and of course buddhism has general beliefs as well which define a religion in the western sense of the word, but most buddhists will see their buddhism as a philosophy, a way of life rather than a religion per se. However, buddhists aren't strictly speaking atheistic, granted many are, but traditionally the historical Buddha didn't deny the existence of a creator God, he simply taught that if such a being (God) did exist then he isn't an interventionist God and therefore was of little concern to humanity, and so the focus was shifted from worshiping a supreme being to benefitting the way of life of humanity through the buddha's teachings.

Some buddhist traditions however do believe in 'gods' (which are more accurately described as spirits really), Tibetan buddhism is one of these traditions, and came about due to buddhism being merged with the traditional animist/hindu trads of tibet, therefore becoming a syncretic 'religion' as well as a new form of buddhism.

Buddhism can be and is practiced alongside other religions by people who see this path more as a philosophy rather than a religion.

Before people go all "hog wild" here and dictate that Buddhism is religious in concept, I will state for the record that it is not.

The term Buddha specifically means "to be awake". To be awake to the world around you, to live in the now and not the then. To be completely aware of everything around you and at the same time, being at peace with what you are aware of.

Think of it as the Buddha-Dharma or "way of the buddha". It is not about trying to become a God, or like a God. It's not about worshipping the self, or other Celestial dieties. It is about being truly awake and at peace with yourself and the Universe which surrounds you. It's about having an understanding for all things with a sense of compassion that prevails even over the tiniest detail.

Buddha-Dharma is a path, a philosophy... but in no way I can tell, does it denote any type of religious concept.

It does not, it is a path in which one follows to find the center of the universe within themselves, connecting with the ultimate aspect of the universe.

- Sin Amar

If anyone is interested - heres a great website (Soka Gakkai International)

http://www.sgi.org/

in many ways Buddhism is very much like paganism in the fact that both religions teach that you except people who who they are and to not judge , that we do not make any distinction in who or how people love . hence the phrase " the Heart wants what the heart wants" many religions could learn from this and many people would be much happier .

But, Stixx... unlike Paganism or any other mono or polytheistic connotated theological practice, Buddhism may be dogmatic in that it's principles are dictated by an authority figure as in incontrovertibley true, but the Buddhist does not worship any form of deity.

All in all, a Buddhist could be considered an atheist of sorts.

Well Buddhism was formed through aspects of Hinduism, so reason why it has a connection to such.

Buddhism can be and is practiced alongside other religions by people who see this path more as a philosophy rather than a religion.


Pardon the cut 'n paste... but this ever-so said well, what I wished to express... I mean, I call label myself a humanist, or an agnostic, with Pagan leanings, but I try to follow a Karmic path: a Buddhist Way.

my understanding of humanism is that they do not believe in any kind of after life. That when one dies that is it.

karma on the other hand indicates a belief in an afterlife, to wit, a rebirth at some level

your understanding is good.. but hey, it works for me.

while I believe this is it, I Live, for Today... a lot of people cannot say that.

Heck.. some are living for 'The Rapture', of all things...

its certainly not a bad belief system...
just not my beliefs.

i eat meat as my body was designed to do so.

i embrace violence as a tool to use when needed....its not the only tool in my tool box, but id rather have access to it, than renounce it.

couldnt do buddhism, couldnt do christianity.

just not my cup of tea i fear.
~W~

Buddhism is pure. Buddhism is selfless. Buddhism teaches respect, love, and doesn't have you believe that someone will send you to a bad place if you don't do as they wish.

Lord Wolf.. I can't do Christianity, or many of the major 'faiths', simply because of the hypocrisy involved.

And yes, there's a tad adaption to how I use Buddhism ... as I do eat meat.

But, and here's the big but: what I follow, as I do gives me a sense of self, that I never found studying [[learning of]] the others...

Theravada Buddhist since 1994.

It's simple and devoid of a lot of ritualistic stuff that turns me off in other belief systems. In short, it simply works for me.

I love the fact that Buddha never claimed to be a god and is never worshiped as one. In fact, the way I practice Buddhism, worship doesn't even make it into the equation.

So if it's a religion without a god how is it that they have deity worship and mala/japa prayers,I've only touched a little on the subject but I do know they have forms of meditation where they visualize themselves in being a deity such as white Tara.

I think this has already been explained in one of the above posts, regarding buddha and hinduism being compressed on a minor level. I think you may be refering to the hindu aspect and not the true buddha-dharma tradition.

I float… peacefully… in the womb of the … Earth Mother … feeling … nurtured … in the green.
I seem to recall … another time … such as this … when I hovered … newly formed within … a woman’s body. But the woman was flesh … and blood … and tissue … throbbing and hot … not the peaceful cool nurturing … of the Earth Mother.
And I was taken … from the womb … to a world of … flesh … a world I left … in a burning symphony of pain.
I was hurled from that world … and want no part of it … for it wants … no part of … me.
There is pain there … and hurt … and memories … that give me … sadness … not like here … in the green.
Above me … is the peace of … the swamp … I am one … with it … with the swamp … I have no need for … earthly concerns. Why should I … when my concern … is the Earth … itself?
Let the flesh … go on about … its small concerns. I have no need … of the flesh. I have the dirt … and the grass … and the leaves. I need … nothing else.
I am … whole.

Quote: The Swamp Thing



I... would like... to return... to the whole.

Quote: Me.

There are aspects of higher authorities in Buddhism, depending on the form in which you practice, I know there are aspects of Hinduism and Buddhism mixing, instead of simply being a path, without the very connection to the Deities, now it has deities in which many give connection to, while the same go with the Tendai school in Japan, it is a mix of Shintoism and Buddhism.

sounds like formalized religion, the way you phrase it...
think I'll stick with my Buddhist hybrid.

works for me..

I'm not familiar with any deity worship in Theravada. Other sects may have it, though. Remember, bowing to an image, statue, etc. in an Asiatic culture i more a sign of respect than it is worship.


This is kind of brief, but it may help:
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2001/06/What-Theravada-Buddhists-Believe.aspx

I've always viewed prayer in the Theravada not as wish fulfillment or seeking guidance externally as it is a method of focusing one's mind on attaining something: Good luck, peace, etc.